(a.) The staff of the commands.
(b.) The general staff, or grosser Generalstab.
B. The accessory état, neben Etat.
2. The war establishment.
The staff of the commands is so complete during peace as to require a very unimportant augmentation, and that chiefly in the lower grades, on the outbreak of war; the framework not only exists, but the officers comprising it are already acquainted with the generals under whom they serve, and with the officers and troops with whom they have to communicate.
At the head-quarters of each corps there are: a chief of the staff—sometimes a Major-General, more frequently a Colonel, exceptionally a Lieutenant-Colonel—a field officer, and a captain; at that of each division a field officer; there is also a chief of the staff with the General Inspection of the artillery. The subordinate duties are performed by the aides-de-camp, of whom there are two at the head-quarters of each corps, and one with each division and brigade; but these officers are not included in the establishments of the general staff, and wear the uniform of their respective regiments; are in no sense of the word aides-de-camp as existing in the English army; they bear the designation of Adjutant, and may more properly be compared to our Deputy Assistants and Brigade Majors: indeed the solitary Adjutant is the only assistant to the Major-General in the performance of the brigade duties. In the time of war the staff is further supplemented by Ordonanz Offiziere attached as aids to the general officers in command.
The Grosser Generalstab includes the officers of the staff who are not employed with the commands, and is stationed in Berlin under the personal direction of the chief of the staff. The Neben or accessory Etat includes the officers employed in the strictly scientific work allotted to this department.
The combined staff at head-quarters is subdivided as follows:
a. The three Sections;
b. The section for military history;